The best coffee shops in London for a flat white, cappuccino or espresso

Enduringly popular for its unhurried atmosphere, lovely service and great food, Allpress Espresso (aka the Redchurch Espresso Bar) also makes terrific coffee – from textbook espresso-based brews to various filter concoctions. Outstanding baked goods and imaginative sandwiches add to the all-round appeal of this winning corner spot, making it a fixture of the Shoreditch scene. The main Allpress roastery is now housed in a big café complex spread over two floors in Dalston.

This historic Soho café was established in 1949 by Lou and Caterina Polledri, and quickly became a social hub for the Italian community in London. It remains popular with everyone from local media workers to vintage enthusiasts and mods on scooters as despite several upgrades to the decor, much of the original fixtures still remain, from the red and white formica to the Gaggia espresso machine and the flooring. Oh, and it's open until 5am! 

In the courtyard of Stamford Works (Dalston’s creative hub), this Aussie-owned gem mixes cosy industrial/studio vibes with a serious attitude to coffee. House beans are sourced from Alchemy, guest names appear on rotation and there’s an equally alluring Antipodean-style menu promising kimchi omelettes, vegan ‘bliss bowls’ with dukkah flatbread and suchlike – as well as avocado in abundance. 

On a mission to bring some Melbourne magic to the streets of Hammersmith, this cool Aussie café brews up some terrific stuff – and it also sells natural wine. Coffee comes from Square Mile and other acclaimed guest roasters from around the globe, while ‘slow brews’ are produced by hand using the Japanese method. To eat, there’s a line-up of inventive Aussie-style brunch-style food (the kimchi-and-cheddar toastie is a best-seller).

Brown, buzzy and never overheated, Climpson’s on Broadway Market has the same qualities as its excellent flat whites, while helpful blackboard notes on the blends from its own roastery ram home the message: coffee first, conversation second. With retro cakes and avocado on sourdough also available, it’s perfect for Saturday afternoons and Monday mornings. Be warned: it gets overrun on the weekends. Climpson’s also has a coffee bar in Old Spitalfields Market.

Occupying a former men’s pissoir, Attendant’s coffee wakes you up before you go-go. Aromas of roast arabica and scented candles waft up from the subterranean cavern, which still boasts the original Victorian urinals (now used for seating). Beans are house-roasted and there are made-to-order sandwiches, hot snacks, good-looking salads and decidedly decent cakes too. Be warned – the place is tiny, and it’s regularly rammed. There are further outlets in Clerkenwell and Shoreditch.

A lovely little spot with not only great brews for take-away and drinking in, but deli goods, bread, cake and fancy sarnies. Come for the flat whites, stay for the toasted croissant stuffed with goat cheese, fig and rocket. 

Not far from the Gherkin, The Association is the jewel in the City’s caffeinated crown – a superlative spot noted for its surprisingly hip industrial interiors and patterned table-tops. Coffee comes from Workshop and Square Mile (where else?), and the line-up of blends changes often (see what’s on offer at the ‘brew bar’). The place is also famed for its ace pastel de nata. There’s an offshoot on Ludgate Hill.

Taking its name from a classic book on Kentish Town local history, this tiny neighbourhood drop-in is an enduring hit with caffeine-loving locals. TFB is now totally vegan: everything from the milk to the dhal to the cookies. Inside, there’s just one long(ish) table for communal sipping, but ample space for takeouts – all very handy for commuters spilling out from the station next door.

A mere ten minutes’ stroll from Leather Lane’s caffeine mecca, Catalyst is a serene and stripped-back Scandi-style drop-in with all-day appeal. Coffee-wise, the owners know their stuff, there’s a Diedrich roaster in the basement and the place is stuffed with barista gadgets. There’s some decent food too (mostly veggie savouries, cakes and brunch classics). What’s more, Catalyst opens early and closes late on Fridays, with a fair choice of cocktails, craft beers and wines.

With branches in Ealing, Putney and East Sheen, Artisan is on the up and this Stamford Brook outlet is a credit to the neighbourhood with its pleasant vibe, enormous windows and down-home furnishings. Close your eyes and you could be in Shoreditch as you sip a V60 drip brew or a perfect espresso from Curious Roo Coffee Roasters. Food covers everything from breakfast porridge and granola to anzac biscuits and sweet treats such as rose and pistachio cake.

A Tooting outpost of the Aussie-style café mini-chain, Brickwood has a prime pitch within SW17’s kitsch covered market. Brunch is the main event, but we love its killer sourdough toasties (the creamy, tangy four-cheese version is a must), while other prime Aussie assets include cheery service, a toe-tapping playlist and tip-top coffee (check out the nitro cold brew from Sandow’s). There are some ‘public’ picnic tables nearby if all the official slots are taken. Branches in Balham, Clapham and Streatham.

Every London borough now seems fully caffeinated with sustainable, single-origin beans and cult blends, so any local contender needs to find a way to stand out from the crowd. Chief Coffee goes with... pinball machines. Load up on caffeine, cakes and Rinkoff ‘crodoughs’ in the ground-floor café (Workshop and Drop provide the beans) then take that chemical high downstairs to the subterranean lounge and reacquaint yourself with your ’90s self via old-school games such as Monster Bash or Cactus Canyon.

Between Seven Dials (food heaven) and Leicester Square (food hell), Coffee Island is the first London outpost of a deceptively decent Greek chain with a passion for gadgets and home-barista gear. They’ve done their homework where it counts, with a range of coffees and a host of brewing variations – from Chemex and Aeropress to ‘cold drip’ and signature sips. Food runs from muffins, cakes and croissants to sandwiches, salads, charcuterie and smoked fish dishes.

Seating here is limited to just six people and it isn’t big on comfort, but this is a City spot to cherish if you value well-curated coffee beans and expert brewing. The house espresso blend comes from Colonna, and guest roasters feature regularly (Square Mile, Tim Wendelboe, The Barn, among others). Food is simple but carefully done, with the emphasis on London-based producers. A steady stream of City workers keeps this tiny treasure buzzing with takeaway orders.

Capacity doesn’t make it far into double digits at this small but perfectly formed shrine to straight caffeine. Choice may be limited too (artisan coffees from Caravan, teas, sandwiches, cakes and some brunch staples), but we love Bloomsbury’s Espresso Room, especially when we can sit outside in fine weather. Smiling staff show off their technical skills in the most modest way possible. ER’s flagship Holborn branch is licensed and there’s another outlet in Covent Garden.

Much of the emphasis is on the restaurant and cocktail bar, but Grind’s dedicated espresso bar is a magnet for London Bridge's caffeine heads. Slip in for weekday breakfast or weekend brunch, pump up your afternoon or enjoy a post-work warm-down over a long black, a flat white or a latte (made from certified organic beans). Grind also does its bit for the environment by using compostable, plastic-free coffee pods. There are branches in Soho, Liverpool Street and Greenwich. 

Seats with a view of Brixton Village market are the ones to grab at this egalitarian corner café tucked inside the covered arcade. Federation buys its coffee beans and blends from Curve Roasters in Margate (as well as seasonal guests from further afield), and it also sells coffee-related hardware. To eat, there are breads, croissants, pastries, grilled cheese sandwiches and sweets, made by some top local producers. It’s all very neighbourly, uncomplicated and affordable.

Whether you’re on two wheels, on four wheels or on foot, this friendly hangout attached to a bicycle repair shop is a terrific pitstop. Solid fuel comes from burgers, meze plates, toasties and the like, although the hottest ticket is breakfast. To drink, there is coffee, but there are also beers and cold-pressed juices. All-comers park up here and the whole place is a joy with its knowledgeable baristas, full-time mechanics and pretty courtyard.

Forget beachcombing, this oddly named Antipodean-style café by Wandsworth Common is all about healthy eats and artisan drinks. Expect everything from American-style pancakes to chorizo scramble and eggs benedict with espresso brown butter hollandaise, plus some inviting cakes and pastries. Drinks, meanwhile, range from Allpress coffee to turmeric chai, matcha lattes, Karma Colas, Belleville beer and much else besides. The owners also run occasional coffee courses for wannabe baristas.

It’s all about homely comforts at the dog-friendly Highness Café, a quaint family-run tearoom and cake shop with mismatched wooden tables, pretty crockery and a menu that’s written on a chalkboard above the counter. Expect the likes of thick peanut butter brownies, iced blood-orange cakes and plump sultana scones, plus decent coffee and freshly blitzed juices served in trendy mason jars. Grab one of the in-demand window seats downstairs or head up to the mezzanine.

A younger sister to Balham’s cult local hangout Milk, this deliciously retro-cool Antipodean joint is calmer and more grown-up than the original – with toned-down music and a more family-orientated vibe. Try the Young Betty (a take on eggs benedict with sourdough rather than a muffin) or a slice of moist, fluffy banana bread with your chosen brew. Breezy young staff are as warm as can be.

Although the Wren church of St Nicholas Cole Abbey was damaged during the Blitz in WWII, it’s still a striking spot, especially if you’re after some relaxation and a shot of heavenly espresso in a busy City precinct. Simple lunchtime sustenance features soup, salads, quiches and home-baked cakes. Coffee comes from Caravan Roasters, tea from the Brew Tea Co – so quality is assured. Note that the café closes every Thursday from 12.45pm to 2pm to host St Nick’s lunchtime talks.

Diminutive in stature but huge in quality, this dinky coffee shop from Seoul-born Sungjae Lee is all about well-sourced espresso and its brewed derivatives, with beans from trusted names such as Square Mile. Back-up comes from a modest assortment of pastries and other edible bits ’n’ pieces – including brunch at the weekends. It also has an unusual range of kombucha drinks an is handily located next to Finchley Road tube.

The new-build exterior and backstreet New Cross location might not scream ‘destination’ but the Red Lion Coffee Co is a sterling spot populated by a suitably arty crowd. The food is varied (everything from pastries to bowls of stew), there’s coffee-making gadgetry for sale and the beans come from Climpson & Sons. RLCC is licensed, so you can also quench your thirst with a pint of The Kernel Table Beer or a glass of Tempranillo.

A tiny, eccentrically decorated place with total commitment to quality across the board, Lowry & Baker on Portobello Road is a local godsend, with a couple of hotplates behind the cake-laden counter doing duty as a kitchen. The food (including the popular build-your-own breakfast) is served on a delightful jumble of unmatched crockery, although the perfectly brewed coffee – made using beans from Monmouth – always comes in well-warmed white cups.

Coffee, craftsmanship and community come together at Lumberjack, a dinky Camberwell café stuffed full of hand-printed tea towels, ceramic mugs and craft furniture. Naturally, this ethos extends to the coffee and tea (from Brixton-based Assembly and Good & Proper respectively), while the food is honest-to-goodness artisan stuff: soups, sharing boards, salads, and fancy cakes. Local mums, freelancers and art students love the vibe.

Still the place to be seen for breakfast or brunch in Balham, this achingly fashionable café is run by a bevy of smiling staff who serve up tongue-in-cheek twists on the old favourites. Coffee provides a good caffeine kick (Workshop features among its suppliers), while a playlist of the owners’ favourite records adds to the feelgood vibe.

Monmouth is the grandmama of high-class coffee in London, and its pitch at the southern end of Borough Market is always heaving. There’s nothing flashy or trendy about its offer, but everything screams quality – from the artisan authenticity of the food (breads, pastries etc) to the enthusiasm of the expertly trained staff. Espresso and its derivatives are properly made, but brewed coffee (from the company’s outstanding range) is the real star. Also try Monmouth’s original shop in Covent Garden and its Bermondsey offshoot.

Peckham’s coffee roastery started in 2014 but soon opened its doors to enthusiastic coffee-loving locals who still drop by for that freshly roasted espresso experience, interesting filter brews and seasonal, single-origin beans. Artisan hot chocolate and teas from Good & Proper are also on offer, but why pick anything else when the coffee’s this good? Old Spike has a social conscience too, training and employing homeless people across its business.

A major hit with office workers around Silicon Roundabout, Kiwi-owned Ozone made a big deal of its ‘sustainable whole-cycle cooking’ from the very start and it’s become more serious with time. We also like its coffee: brewed, slow-brewed or single-origin Balmaadi espresso from Tamil Nadu in India. Also check the brew bar for more specialist sips. Ozone’s popularity has risen stratospherically – it’s crowded upstairs, but easier downstairs. 

Renowned for its devotion to artisan coffee, this spacious and bright café is one of London’s best and is equally distinguished when it comes to hand-brewed filter-type options or espresso (beans come from Square Mile and other famous roasters). Food-wise, expect classic upscale brunch fare, although Prufrock really scores with its homemade cakes – check out the counter display.

A laidback Soho haven with some of the nicest staff around, Rapha proves there’s more to the cycling-coffee pairing than Lance Armstrong-style performance enhancement. The Clubhouse café occupies half the space in a smart cycle clothing shop, with ample seating, cycling memorabilia and a menu that’s a cut above – don’t miss the elaborate super smoothies. As for the coffee, knowledgeable baristas talk you through the process, including where the beans came from. 

Properly passionate about coffee, this cheery corner café in Brixton is the real deal with its single-estate beans and global guests brewed up with just the right amount of obsession. Big windows let in lots of light, while the back room has all the hipster trimmings (bare bricks, bare light bulbs and so on). Over-the-counter food includes brioche buns stuffed with bacon and brie, quiches, pastries and gluten-free cakes.